Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1887-07-26
THE CRANK WHO LIVED IN A
fsan rraneisco Latter,


The "crank who lived Ia . tree" IL
s,ill we'll remembered by the people OF
Los Angeles 0ne day sOm. years 40
there appeared In an eastern paper an adj
ver,isement stating tina, the wealthy own.
CT Of . ranch In southern C.lifornis. un.
able to fnd wife 10 his liking among
the then scan, supply Of unmarried fs-
males In that section. would be supreme
ly delighted II some cOngenial soul OF the
opposite ser would take pity upon his
siiiaen, solitude and begin correspond
enoe With him "wiih . view 20 mstii.
mony." A willing Chloe was 10, hard
TO find. and semi.uopie Hood OF letters
tra,ersed back and forth across the co.,
tineni. In glowing terms the beauties
OF the extensive ranch owned by the un-
willing bachelor were Sc, forth. Mansion,
orange grove. fountains. vineyard. fine
stock. etc. required many resms OF note
paper In their setting forth in manner
bsfi,,ing their elegance. and the young
woman at whose fee, al this opulerce
vas cas-, Is hardly TO be blamed for hsv-
ing been carried away thereby. Finally.
ia answer to the of.iepes,sd requests Of
her unknown correspondent. the girl con-
senied 20 cross the continent and marry
her waiting lover. Directions were Civ
en- ~ 10 where she was % 90. and sIe
started on the weary journey In the JOY
ful certainty q fading handsome aud
wealthy husband and beautiful home
in Golden State. Upon arriving a, the
ne.rs., station she looked about for the
gorgeou. convey anee aud pr.hoing ,tesds
which she had been led 10 cxpse, she
would hnd Ia READINGS. 90 convey her TO
her future home Of ease and rhuemeh'.
Nothing hut . strong team OF mus.
tang, and rieke'y wagon iha, had evil
IDENTITY "oome the plsins seross was In
,ish, SuppOsing ,ha, some mi'undsr-
standing =. 20 the time Other arrival vas
the eAu., q tie neglect. she inquired for
the locality Other promised husbands ex-
ien.ive estates. and upon mentioning bis
name she va. met by strange slsness
anil half concealed smiles No one seem
Cd to know where the mansion and u.
beautiful surroundings wefe heated. bat
finally some oae volunteered TO take her
TO the h.biis,ion Of the only man Of the
name mentioned by her Who vi. Known
IN that section. A long and dieary ride
followed. For few miles !, led through
a thrifty settlement. with neA, cottages
I'D pleasant orchard. and vineyards.
A. any place Of more ptominenee than
the other. came into view the weary usv-
tl,r thought ths, surely tha, mus, be her
destination. Ba, her guide drove by
them ell. and finally turned iaio noun.
iAin canon. where ihefs Vas no; ,es,ige
u civilization. After Winding about
over a rough and rocky road fof several
miles. suddenly the man stopped bis team.
pointed to /. great. spreading sycamore
tree. aud told her ,ha, there ~. where
the nan lived whom she va, seeking.
There vas no, = Sign Of house 10 be
seen. .ni !, va. only upon approaching
the ,r,e that any human presence was
detected. Then, with the agility Of one
Of hi. Dlrwinisn ancestors. there descend.
sl TO the ground to interview bis visitors
being clad only Ia single gnmen,--
only this And nothing more
The sycamore tree was the mansion.
the man with Bat one g.men, was the
rich and handsome lover. and the estate
well. there ~s. plsniy u ground ,h'ri
II thu, vas al tbs, va. needed.